Last night was supposed to be the evening of the week I was looking forward to most. My husband and I were getting together with friends at our favorite restaurant, a Spanish tapas place in Royal Oak called
Sangria. But as we were walking toward the restaurant from the parking garage, our friend Joe texted my husband with two words: IT'S CLOSED!
We were only a block away when we got the text so I was really hoping he just meant it was closed for the day, not closed forever. But alas, as we arrived at the restaurant, we noticed as we looked through the windows that it was completely dark, lonely, empty and the door handles were zip-tied shut with a bundle of newspaper flyers.
To say I was devastated might sound melodramatic, but I really and truly was. It felt like the sad end of an era but without the closure. Sangria was more than a restaurant to me. It was that little nudge on the shoulder for the need to catch up with friends, even despite our busy schedules. It meant conviviality washed down in multiple glasses of a magical fruity wine concoction, and on Thursday night Flamenco nights, the liquid courage was a reminder for the need to live and try new things as the performers always tried to pull us up on stage, and succeeded on 3-4 occasions.
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| FLAMENCO |
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| Finagled into flamenco |
I don't know what will we do or where we will go to try to replicate that feeling of tradition and conviviality, but in the mean time, I just need some time to mourn and reminisce...
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| Ah memories... |
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| All the tapas we will miss... |
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| RIP Sangria :( |
Ah, what a pity. It is so sad when a favourite restaurant closes down, even worse to notice the way you did.
ReplyDeleteSo sad, to lose a favorite place.
ReplyDeleteA nice tribute.
Oh I hate when a favorite restaurant closes. That happened to us recently and it is so sad. I hope you find another great place soon.
ReplyDeleteThat stinks. What a shame.
ReplyDeleteSad, we all need a "local" restaurant as a go to place. Ours is a Thai one. Hope you find another one soon
ReplyDeleteThat's sad. So many happy memories for you. I hope you find some other good venue for your friendly gatherings.
ReplyDeleteSob! I know the feeling when a favorite place is no longer. Here's hoping you find a new place to join your friends.
ReplyDeleteBummer! I hate that, too. :( Well, then, my advice is to gear up and head to Sevilla, Spain and go to a tapas bar there, dance the flamenco in a small bar with astounding muscisians and take more pics for us!! Viva Espana!
ReplyDeleteI hate when favorite places close down :(
ReplyDeleteI hope you can find something comparable!
Oh no! That's too bad. I'm glad you have so many good memories of it - hopefully you'll start making new ones at another location.
ReplyDeleteTapas make such lovely accompaniments to drinks. There must a cookbook devoted to tapas?
ReplyDeleteI absolutely loved Sangria! I wanted to again for my birthday, and travel 50 miles to get there. The sangria is the best I have ever had. I could drink it by the pitcher, and I don't usually drink. I a, so bummed to hear of their closing :(
ReplyDelete